Photos

Passion revival with Ruthie Henshall – first look

Sondheim and Lapine’s musical is back in the UK

Alex Wood

06 May 2022

Ruthie Henshall and Dean John-Wilson
© Mark Senior

First look photos have been released for Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.

The show features Ruthie Henshall (Billy Elliot) as Fosca, Dean John-Wilson (Aladdin) as Giorgio and Kelly Price (What's New Pussycat?) as Clara.

The company is completed by Adam Robert Lewis (The Phantom of the Opera), Charlie Waddell (South Pacific), Danny Whitehead (Wicked), Juan Jackson (Cats), Ray Shell (Starlight Express), Steve Watts (As You Like It) and Tim Walton (Matilda The Musical).

The musical features a score by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, is set in the 19th century and follows a soldier named Giorgio who is obsessively pursued by Fosca, the cousin of a superior officer. Director Michael Strassen has put Fosca at the heart of the revival to explore the consequences of intense adoration.

Alongside Strassen, the creative team for the production includes movement director Sundeep Saini and musical director Yshani Perinpanayagam, with orchestrations by Ed Zanders, musical supervision by Paul Schofield, set and costume design by Elin Steele, lighting by Charlie M Jones, sound by Dan Samson and casting by Rob Kelly.

Produced by Thomas Hopkins, Guy Chapman, Schofield and Henshall, the piece runs at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester to 5 June.